As with many fixtures and appliances in your home, a toilet has a limited useful life. Depending on how often it is used and how well it’s maintained, this product can last for anywhere from 10 to 50 years. When it is time to replace a toilet in your home, it is best to do so with the help of a professional. Let’s take a closer look at why this is.
1. Professional Tools and Experience
At first glance, it might not seem overly difficult to replace a toilet. However, if you’ve never completed this task before, you’ll find that there are some challenges associated with doing the job properly.
For example, it’s easy to forget to turn off the water before you take the current toilet out. You might also neglect to drain existing water out of the tank or take other steps that could create a huge mess. Many homeowners aren’t experienced with replacing a toilet or working on household plumbing. It may be easier to allow someone who has the right tools and knows how to use them to do the work for you.
2. Professionals Can Get the Job Done Quickly
It’s not uncommon for older or smaller homes to have a single bathroom. This means that there is only one toilet available for everyone who lives in your residence. Ultimately, you might not have the several hours or days needed to order and install a new product. Hiring a professional means that you’ll have your bathroom functioning properly in no time. Also, the work is done without damage done to the rest of your bathroom or home. It’s common for a DIY project to turn into a large undertaking because of additional issues that are created because of a lack of experience.
3. Proper Installation Improves Performance and Function
A lot can go wrong if a toilet is not installed properly. For instance, if the toilet isn’t properly sealed, this can result in serious leaks. Depending on where the toilet is located, the water could make its way into interior walls or other spaces that can be difficult to dry in a timely manner. This can lead to mold growth.
If the flange is not level, it could also result in leaks that can cause damage to the house. In addition, if the leak isn’t discovered in a timely manner, you could waste a significant amount of water as well as deal with a potentially hefty water bill.
Leaking toilet water may have a foul smell that can permeate your bathroom and other areas of the house. Depending on what’s in the toilet water, interacting with it in any manner can create a safety risk.
A toilet that is not properly positioned in the bathroom can be uncomfortable to use. This may be because there isn’t enough room to sit or stand or because the toilet may move while you are trying to use it.
Ultimately, having a professional install the toilet on your behalf can minimize the risk of leaks or other serious issues to your home or your health. It can also ensure that the toilet doesn’t sustain any damage that could reduce its useful life.
4. There May Be Other Issues to Address
Ideally, replacing your old or broken toilet will be as simple as removing the existing one and putting on the new one. However, there is no guarantee that this will be the case. The older your toilet or bathroom is, the more likely floor, wall or flange damage will result in repair or replacement.
If the flange is damaged, a professional is much more likely to be able to fix it properly and in a timely manner. In some cases, the wax ring will need to be replaced to ensure a good seal between the bottom of the toilet and the drainpipe.
If there are any issues with the drainpipe itself, those will need to be addressed to ensure that the toilet works properly. Otherwise, you might find that the toilet doesn’t flush or fill properly, which can make it less efficient and more difficult to use.
5. Understanding the Details of Toilet Replacement
Perhaps the best reason to call a professional to fix your toilet is that it’s easy to overlook something that a professional would notice right away. For example, you might not notice that a pipe is corroded and needs to be fixed before the new toilet can be installed.
You might also forget to ensure that the new toilet is compatible with your home’s plumbing system. If it isn’t, you’ll either need new pipes or find fittings that can overcome this challenge.
When selecting a toilet, you’ll need to account for more than just looks. It’s critical to consider height, flush type and bowl shape to ensure that you’re buying a product that is efficient and convenient to use. These variables may also impact where it can go in your bathroom or if it can be installed at all without adjustments.
Finally, a professional can likely determine the extent of water or other damage caused by a leak. This may be true even if the damage isn’t readily apparent to the untrained eye. In some cases, water will leak down to a subfloor and cause it to rot. To properly install your new bathroom product, you’ll need to replace the subflooring as well or run the risk of damaging the toilet.
Hiring a professional means hiring someone who can properly assess the scope of your project quickly and easily. Ultimately, you’ll spend less time and money trying to learn as you go instead of getting an important job done in a timely manner.
Other Considerations When Hiring Help
Ideally, you will hire someone who is licensed and insured to do the work. A license means that whoever does the job meets strict standards of professionalism and competence. The presence of an insurance policy ensures you won’t be liable for any damage that is caused during the installation.
If you’re not dealing with an emergency, it may be a good idea to contact several companies to compare quotes. You’ll also want to make sure to talk to previous clients or do other research before hiring someone to work on your home.
Finally, ask about any warranties or service guarantees that might be available. A warranty or guarantee can further protect you from paying for some or all repairs related to the installation of your new toilet. For example, if a bolt is overtightened, it could cause the toilet to crack, which would likely require the purchase and installation of a new one.
If you need professional toilet repair services in Knoxville, TN, contact the team at Tennessee Standard Plumbing today. In addition to repairing or replacing toilets, we can also install a new water line or water heater. We can also clean or inspect a drain as well as detect and repair leaks to ensure that your home is always in good condition.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment for our plumbing services.
